Radio control transmitter and receiver

Abstract

Radio control is used for different types of models, e.g. aircraft, cars and boats. Commonly, a number of different radio channels are allocated in a frequency band for use in radio control. If a modeller finds her or his intended channel in use, s/he can either wait until it becomes free, or retune the transmitter and receiver to a channel which is not in use. This can involve changing two crystals, one of which, in the receiver, may involve partly disassembling the model. A radio control receiver is disclosed having data storage containing code unique to the receiver. The receiver has a tuner arranged to scan a plurality of radio channels. A processor is arranged to process receiver identifying code received on a channel, with the unique code to determine whether transmissions on the channel are intended for the receiver. The tuner is responsive to an output from the processor indicating that transmissions on the channel are intended for the receiver, to lock onto that channel, and to the output from the tuner indicating that the transmissions on that channel are not intended for the receiver, to tune to another of the plurality of radio channels. Having ascertained that a channel is free, the modeller tunes her or his transmitter, switches that on and switches on the receiver. The latter identifies the channel and locks on to it.

1. A radio control receiver for receiving, on one of a plurality of radio channels, receiver identifying code and control data in a periodically repeated time frame for operating a plurality of devices in a model in accordance with respective control data on each of a plurality of device channels included within said one radio channel, the receiver having data storage containing a code unique to the receiver, a tuner arranged to scan a plurality of radio channels, and a processor for processing receiver identifying code received on a scanned radio channel with the unique code to determine whether transmissions on the scanned radio channel are intended for the receiver, and said tuner being responsive to an output from the processor indicating either that transmissions on the scanned radio channel are intended for the receiver, for thus causing the tuner to lock onto said scanned radio channel, or that the transmissions on said scanned channel are not intended for the receiver, for thus causing the tuner to tune to another of the plurality of radio channels. 
   
   
     2. A receiver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the unique code is processed with a received code periodically. 
   
   
     3. A receiver as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the unique code is processed with a received code each time a set of failsafe information is received. 
   
   
     4. A receiver as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the unique code is processed with a received code each time a frame of data for a set of device channels is received. 
   
   
     5. A radio control transmitter for transmitting signals to a receiver as claimed in  claim 1 , so as to operate a plurality of devices each on a respective device channel, the transmitter having data storage for storing codes which when processed with a corresponding unique code indicate that transmissions are intended for the receiver, an input device for setting said codes in the data store and for selecting said codes for transmission, and a processor for transmitting control data and a selected code on the same radio channel. 
   
   
     6. A transmitter as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the selected code is transmitted periodically. 
   
   
     7. A transmitter as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the selected code is transmitted each time a set of failsafe information is transmitted. 
   
   
     8. A transmitter as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the selected code is transmitted each time a frame of data for a set of device channels is transmitted. 
   
   
     9. A transmitter as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said input device includes means for interrogating a communication port of the receiver. 
   
   
     10. A transmitter as claimed in  claim 5 , which is part of a transceiver equipped to receive signals indicating poor reception from the receiver and to change channels in response to receipt of such signals. 
   
   
     11. A transmitter as claimed in  claim 5 , which is part of a transceiver equipped to receive signals on the channel in use by the transmitter, the transceiver being arranged to cease transmission periodically and then to change the channel in the event that significant interference is received on the channel in use. 
   
   
     12. A transmitter as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the stored code is identical to the unique code. 
   
   
     13. A receiver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the unique code is interrogable at a communication port. 
   
   
     14. A receiver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receiver is part of a transceiver equipped to transmit radio signals indicating poor reception. 
   
   
     15. A receiver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is operative to compare the received code with the unique code and to give an output indicating that transmissions on the channel are intended for the receiver when the compared codes are identical, and otherwise to indicate that the transmissions on that channel are not intended for the receiver.